Edward weston



1 (No Model.)

E. WESTON.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

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UNllTlED gllATES PATENT rrrcn.

EDVARD \VESTON, OF NEVARK, NE\V ERSEY, ASSIG-NOR TO THE UNITED STATES ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRlC LEGHTENG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,883, dated September 9, 1884:.

Application filed February 21, 1884. (No model.)

In an application for a patent filed by me, and numbered 119,430, I, have described a system of electric lighting in which provision is made for inserting in the derived circuits of a I multiple-series system resistances equal to and in place of lamps that are cut out, and also for cutting out a given derived circuit when all the lamps in such circuit have been cut out. By this arrangement a waste of energy is avoided and the proper conditions maintained for the normal running of the lamps that remain in action, inasmuch as a derived circuit which still remains closed after all the lamps are cut out absorbs just so much electrical energy for no useful purpose. My present invention relates to this system, and is an improvement thereon, in that it provides for an entirely automatic operation of the system by which the derived circuits are cut out when all the lamps have been extinguished,whether by design or by accident, such as the burning out or breakage of one or more of the lamps.

In describing the special features of my invention, reference is had to the drawing, which 5 represents the main conductors of an electric circuit and a cross or derived circuit contain ing an arbitrary number of incandescent lamps in series. All the derived or cross circuits of a given system being in every respect alike,

0 but one is here shown in illustration of the invention.

A B are the main conductors of a given circuit. O O 0 indicate the path of a derived or cross circuit between such conductors and in- 5 cluding the lamps D E F.

In the circuit, 0, between the main A and lamp D is a magnet, D, secured to a metal standard, on, set on an insulating-base, a.

To the standard at is pivoted an iron arma ture, p, which vibrates between the pole of v magnet D and aback stop, 0, of metal. This device forms what is commonly known in the art as a cut-out, and,-for convenience, will be so designated hereinafter, the term being employed to indicate any similar device for automatically interposing a resistance in the place of a lamp extinguished. A similar cutout, E, is placed in the circuit, (Lbetween lamp D and lamp E, and so on. Between each cut-out and the lamp near which it is placed is a manual switch, d cf, constructed for closing or breaking the circuit 0. The standards at of the cut-outs are connected to the eonductor O by wires 16. The stops 0 are also connected to the conductor 0 through resistance- 6 coils R S T, each one of which has the same resistance as that of a lamp. The conductor (3 between the lamp F, or the last of the series, and the main Bis severed and its ends connected to the back stop, 0, and standard at of a cut-out, H, similar in mechanical construc tion to those described, but of much higher resistance. The magnet of this cut-out is included in a circuit, G, formed in the following manner: A wire is run from main A to a conducting-strip, a, secured to but insulated from the armature p of cut-out D. I11 the path of movement of this strip is a conducting-stop, '2), connected with a similar strip on the armature of cut-out E. The circuit is continued in this way, the last pin, 1), being connected with the main B by that portion of the circuit G that includes the magnet of out out H.

The operation of the system is as follows: Assuming that the lamps are all running, then it is evident that the armatures of the cut-outs D, E, and F will be raised,while that of cutout H will be in contact with its back stop. If, now one of the lamps, as F, be broken, o burned out, or turned ofi' by the switch f, the interruption of the circuit 0 causes the armature of cut-out F, and perhaps others, to drop; but this re-establishes the circuit C maining lamps will continue to burn, or will be instantly relighted in case they, too, had been shunted out of the circuit. The drop through the resistance T, so that all the re 5 ping of the armature of cut-out F closes one of the breaks in circuit G, which, however,

still remains incomplete from the elevation of euit G- will be completed and the magnet of cut-out H rendered active in consequence, its armature will be drawn up, and the circuit C, with its.resistance-coils, will be broken. As the resistance of circuit G- is very high, but little current will pass through it between the mains A and B. \V hen it is desired to start one or more of the lamps up again, the circuit U- must be :[irst interrupted and a lamp then turned on. Then. so long as any one lamp is running the circuit G will'remainbre ken. The circuit G may be broken for this purpose in many ways, as by raising for a moment one of the output armatures; or the switches (Z c f may obviously be constructed in many well-understood ways .l'or effecting the momentary interruption of the circuit G. \Vhen the cut-outs D E 1*" are included in the main circuit, it is possible for them all to operate upon the extinguishment of a lamp; but in practice it has been found that this rarely or never occurs. The rupture of circuit U by such an occurrence may be easily guarded against by constructing the armature of cut-out H in such a way that it will not respond instantly to the attraction ot'its magnet in leaving the back stop.

Ihave now described the manner in which my invention is or may he carried into effect.

Without confining myself to any particular mechanical. construction 0 l" the parts described, what ll. claim is i 1. The combination, with an electric circuit containing two or more electric lamps in scrics, and automatic cut-outs for interposing resistances in place of lamps extinguished, of a supplemental. circuit of high resistance, having breaks that are closed by the cutouts, and including a device for interrupting the lampcircuit when by the operation of the cut-outs all the breaks in the supplemental circuit are closed, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a main circuit and a derived or cross circuit containing two or more electric lamps in series, and electromagnetic cut-outs or devices for intm'posing resistances in place of lamps extinguished, 01' a cross-circuit ofhigh resistance having breaks that are closed by the cutouts when they are brought into operation, and an eleetromagnetic device for interrupting the lampcircuit when all. the breaks in the other are closed, all substantially as set forth.

3. The eombination,with a derived or cross circuit from the conductors of a main line, and containing two or more electric lamps in series, and electromagnetic cut-outs for interposing resistances in place of lamps extinguished, of a supplemental cross-circuit of high resistance, a device included therein for interrupting the lamp-circuit, and contaclstrips connected with the cutouts and operat ing to form or to close breaks in the supplemental circuit, as and for the purpose specilied.

In testimony whereof I. have hereunto setmy hand this 18th day of February, 1884i.

EDWARD \VESTON.

XVitnesscs:

W. Fnisnv, \V. ll. Doucn'r'r. 

